Mother’s Day came early for children whose moms are doing time at the Women’s Community Correctional Center as a Kids’ Day event Saturday at the prison allowed them to get together, hug, play games and enjoy a meal.

Keiki o ka ‘Aina Family Learning Centers has been hosting Kids’ Day events since 2005 at the Kailua facility, giving mothers and children precious time to enjoy each other’s company during their long separations.

“The keiki need this,” said Memory Ku, coordinator of Keiki o ka ‘Aina, in a statement. “The evidence demonstrates that children want to see their parents. They need to know they are still loved, still wanted. And, the caregivers recognize how spending time with their parent supports their continued development, their relationships and social situations. Absolutely, this is a treasured time.”

The keiki and their moms shared laughs and tears, read books to each other and took part in specially designed games during the 3-1/2 hours they had together Saturday afternoon.

The children and their parents made crafts together, floated soap bubbles in the air with bubble wands and played volleyball.

“The women look forward to this day as much as the children, and having this important visit during the Mother’s Day weekend makes it even more special for them,” said Eric Tanaka, warden at WCCC. “We appreciate all of our community partners, like Keiki o ka ‘Aina, who devote hundreds of hours organizing these family visits and helping these mothers mend relationships and break the cycle of incarceration.”

The Laulima Giving Program donated toys for the event. Children were allowed to pick out a couple of items each while interacting with their mothers.

Inmates prepared and served a barbecue lunch, topped off with nine dozen cupcakes donated by Bake-A-Blessing Outreach Ministry from Inspire Church in Waikele.